Practice Swing on Teeing Ground?

My recent playing partners told me I broke a rule of golf when I took a full practice swing while on the teeing ground. I was not near my ball, and not aiming at the green, so clearly it was not a stroke since there was no intention to hit the ball. They claim that I can take full practice swings only when off the teeing ground. Did I break a rule?

As a further question, if I make a practice swing, near my ball, aiming at the green, but a step further away from my ball (so I can't possibly hit it), am I breaking a rule? I have seen many players do this. Does it make a difference if I am on the teeing ground?

Oh, a further piece of information. I play to USGA rules. My playing partners are from Switzerland so play by whatever rules apply there. We thought they would be the same rules. Does that make a difference?

Thanks,
Ken

That sounds a bit like BS to me.
If there's a penalty for taking a practice swing on a tee, then slap me with 9 penalties per 9 holes.
Almost every member of our social club will have a practice swing on the tee.

Page 54- RULES OF GOLF as approved by R&A Rules Limited and
The United States Golf Association
http://www.randa.org/flash/rules/PDF/RoG2004.pdf
Note 1: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be
taken at any place, provided the player does not breach
the Rules.

Cheers

Darran

No, you are allowed to take a practice swing anwhere on the course, on the tee, away from your ball or otherwise. Excessive divots might be frowned on from an etiquette point of view but thats all.

I always carry a coply of the rules in my bag, and when someone comes up with something wacky, it's always good to hand them it and ask them to show you the rules reference.

I would only add that taking a practice swing close to or next to your ball might be a little discourteous to the guy in the fairway weighing up his second (or for some of us, sometimes his third ) - he can't really tell that you are not about to boom one down to him.

I think they're confusing a practice swing with hitting a practice shot during the round. The rules are specific about that. You ARE allowed to practice chipping and putting (around the tee box while waiting for the group ahead for instance), you are NOT allowed to practice FULL shots (i.e actually hitting a ball with a full swing). I could look uo the rule but so can you.

I can't imagine not being allowed to take a practice swing just before addressing the ball. Don't your friends watch Tiger Woods? He always goes through a quick couple of practice swings to get the feel for the shot is is about to play.

Practice (Rule 7) is allowed as follows:
1. Before or between rounds, a player may practice on the course.
2. During the round, a player shall not practice either during the play of a hole or between the play of two holes, except that, between play of two holes, the player may practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the last hole played, any practice putting green or the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided such practice stroke is not played from a hazard and does not unduly delay play. Strokes played in continuing the play of a hole, the result in which has been decided, are not practice strokes.

J

Subject to local rules.

At St. Andrews it isn't legal to make practice swings on the tee box - but unless specified in the local rules, I say BS.

This is not and cannot be a Local Rule as defined in the Rules of Golf. It is a rule of the course. No stroke penalty or DQ can be imposed. However, the management of the course may require you to discontinue play and leave the course.

Thanks to Darran, bulldog2k, james.welsh, Mox and aaa who posted to help me answer this. I went back to one of my playing partners and he checked his rulebook (in German) and agreed with us that I did NOT break a rule by taking a practice swing. He will pass the message on to the other players involved. It seems that they were confused about practice swing versus practice stroke.

Thanks again for helping me out.

Ken

I think you're right.

It's about ethics on the course. Not the rules.